Promotion generation engine for a money transfer system

ABSTRACT

A money transfer system is promoted by providing a user access to a game or contest generated by a promotions engine computer. The user is directed to a customer relations portal accessible via an access device to participate in the game or contest. The customer relations portal comprising a server configured to manage the game or contest and associated with the promotions engine computer. A response is received from the user at the server related to the user&#39;s participation in the game or contest. The server determines whether the user is to receive a reward or prize based on the response from the user, and an output is provided to the user on the access device indicating whether the user is to receive the reward or prize.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/172,635, filed Feb. 4, 2014, entitled PROMOTION GENERATION ENGINE FORA MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,751,006, issued on Sep. 5,2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/685,303, filed Nov. 26, 2012, entitled PROMOTION GENERATION ENGINEFOR A MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,657,688, issued on Feb.25, 2014, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties and for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to money transfer systems. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a money transfer systemincluding a promotion generation engine configured to generatepromotions for customers.

BACKGROUND

A number of businesses offer money transfer and other services through anetwork of agents and computers. A consumer that desires to use theseservices to transfer money to a third party takes the money to one ofthe agents or computers associated with the business. The agent orcomputer accepts the money, obtains necessary information such as theconsumer's identity and the identity of the third party transferee, andinitiates a transaction. The money is then made available to the thirdparty transferee by another agent or another computer.

Only limited consumer identity information, such as name and/or phonenumber, is typically collected to initiate a transaction. It can thus bedifficult to effectively market money transfer services to relevantgroups and individual consumers.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for promotinga money transfer system. Access is provided to a user to a game orcontest generated by a promotions engine computer. The user is directedto a customer relations portal accessible via an access device toparticipate in the game or contest. The customer relations portalcomprising a server configured to manage the game or contest andassociated with the promotions engine computer. A response is receivedfrom the user at the server related to the user's participation in thegame or contest. The server determines whether the user is to receive areward or prize based on the response from the user, and an output isprovided to the user on the access device indicating whether the user isto receive the reward or prize. In some embodiments, a user profile ismaintained on the server that includes identification and informationaldata of the user, transaction history of the user on the money transfersystem, and participation history of the user in other games orcontests. In some embodiments, the promotions engine computer isconfigured to customize the game or contest based on the user profile.The access device can include a user computer on which a website can beentered to access the customer relations portal, and/or a user interfacecan be generated that allows the user to alert other individuals aboutthe game or contest. When the user alerts another user about the game orcontest, the user can be provided with an additional reward or prize. Insome embodiments, the server is configured to determine whether theuser's response successfully completes the game or contest and, if theuser's response is successful, whether the user's response was one ofthe first predetermined number of successful responses received at theserver. In some embodiments, the game or contest comprises a triviaquestion, and the response comprises an answer to the trivia question.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method forpromoting a money transfer system. A money transfer transaction request,which includes identification information of the user, is received froma user for a money transfer transaction. A user profile based on theuser's identification information is accessed on a server. The userprofile includes identification and informational data of the user, andtransaction history of the user on the money transfer system. A game orcontest is generated on a promotions engine computer, which in someembodiments is customized based on the date, user's location, and/oruser profile. The user is directed to a customer relations portalaccessible via an access device to participate in the game or contest.The customer relations portal is configured to manage the game orcontest. A response is received from the user at the server related tothe user's participation in the game or contest, and it is determinedwhether the user is to receive a reward or prize based on the responsefrom the user. An output is then provided to the user on the accessdevice indicating whether the user is to receive the reward or prize.The access device can include a user computer on which a user interfacecan be generated that allows the user to alert other individuals aboutthe game or contest. When the user alerts another user about the game orcontest, the user can be provided with an additional reward or prize. Insome embodiments, access information for the game or contest is printedon a receipt for the money transfer transaction. In some embodiments,the server is configured to determine whether the user's responsesuccessfully completes the game or contest and, if the user's responseis successful, whether the user's response was one of the firstpredetermined number of successful responses received at the server. Insome embodiments, the game or contest comprises a trivia question, andthe response comprises an answer to the trivia question.

In a further aspect, a promotion generation system associated with amoney transfer system includes a promotions engine computer and aserver. The promotions engine computer is configured to generate a gameor contest and provide access to the game or contest to users of themoney transfer system. The server is configured to receive a responsefrom the users related to the users' participation in the game orcontest. Each user provides the response to the server via an accessdevice that communicates with the server. The server is furtherconfigured to determine whether each user is to receive a reward orprize based on that user's response and to provide an output to the useron the access device indicating whether the user is to receive thereward or prize. In some embodiments, the system further includes a userprofile database associated with the promotions engine computer andconfigured to store a user profile associated with each of the users ofthe money transfer system. Each user profile includes identification andinformational data of the associated user, transaction history of theuser on the money transfer system, and participation history of the userin other games or contests. In some embodiments, the promotions enginecomputer is configured to customize the game or contest for each userbased on the user's associated user profile. The access device caninclude a user computer on which a user interface can be generated thatallows the user to alert other individuals about the game or contest.When the user alerts another user about the game or contest, the usercan be provided with an additional reward or prize. In some embodiments,the server is further configured to determine whether the user'sresponse successfully completes the game or contest and, if the user'sresponse is successful, determine whether the user's response was one ofthe first predetermined number of successful responses received at theserver. In some embodiments, the game or contest comprises a triviaquestion, and the response comprises an answer to the trivia question.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a system a money transfersystem including a promotion generation computer configured to generatepromotions for customers.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for providing customers of a moneytransfer system with a reward or prize for participating in a promotionassociated with the money transfer system.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, isnot to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. Onthe contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system 10 for sendingand receiving money transfers. System 10 includes a send computer 12 ata send location 14 and a receive computer 16 at a receive location 18.The send computer 12 and the receive computer 16 communicate with acentral server 20, for example via a communication network 21, such asthe internet. In some embodiments, a sender interface 22 is connected tothe send computer 12, and a receiver interface 24 is connected to thereceive computer 16. The system 10 facilitates, in part, the sending ofmoney transfers through the send computer 12, and the receipt of themoney transfer through the receive computer 16.

The send location 14 may be a facility that is approved by a financialservices organization to send purchase requests for money transfers tothe server 20. The send location 14 may be a store or dedicated locationthat provides redemption services for money transfers. Alternatively,the send location 14 may access a computer remotely, such as via atelephone call or the internet. The send computer 12 is operated by anagent at the approved send location 14. The send computer 12 may includesoftware that facilitates entry of information via the sender interface22 to request sending the money transfer for subsequent transmission tothe server 20 for approval. The agent at the send location 14 may alsoreview purchaser identification and accept funds from the sender of themoney transfer. In some embodiments, the agent accepts funds on behalfof the financial services organization. The send location 14 may alsoinclude a telephone (not shown) or other voice communications device tocontact the financial services organization if questions arise duringthe money transfer request process. While a single send location 14 isshown in FIG. 1, in actual implementation, the system 10 includes aplurality of send locations 14 that each includes a send computer 12that communicates with the server 20.

In alternative embodiments, the send computer 12 may be any computerconfigured to provide information to the server 20 via a secure internetor server connection. For example, the send computer 12 may be a homecomputer, kiosk, or other interactive device with an associated senderinterface 22 (e.g., keyboard, touch screen). The send computer 12 mayinclude a web browser or other application that provides a userinterface to enter information to send a money transfer. The web browsermay allow for entry of sender identification information and senderaccount information, the latter of which authorizes withdrawal of fundsfrom an account with a financial institution to fund the money transfer.As another example, the send computer 12 may be configured to receivemoney transfer send information from the sender via telephone orinteractive voice recognition systems. As a further example, a telephoneat the send location 14 may be used to contact a call center (not shown)to initiate a send request to the server 20. The send computer 12 mayalso be located remotely from the send location 14.

The receive location 18 may be a facility that is approved by thefinancial services organization to provide redemption requests for sentmoney transfers to the server 20 and issue funds to money transferreceivers upon approval of the redemption requests. The receive location18 may be a store or dedicated location that provides redemptionservices for money transfers. Alternatively, the receive location 18 mayaccess a computer remotely, such as via a telephone call or theinternet. The receive computer 16 at the receive location 18 may beoperated by an agent at the approved receive location 18. The receivecomputer 18 may include software that facilitates entry of informationto request redemption of money transfers for subsequent transmission tothe server 20 for approval. The agent at the receive location 18 also,in some cases, reviews the identification of the money transfer receiverand, if approved, issues funds to the money transfer receiver. Thereceive location 18 may also include a telephone or other voicecommunications device to contact the financial services organization ifquestions arise during the money transfer receipt process. While asingle receive location 18 is shown in FIG. 1, in actual implementation,the system 10 includes a plurality of receive locations 18 that eachinclude a receive computer 16 that communicates with the server 20.

In alternative embodiments, the receive computer 16 may be any computerconfigured to provide information to the server 20 via a secure internetor server connection. For example, the receive computer 16 may be a homecomputer, kiosk, or other interactive device with an associated receiverinterface 24 (e.g., keyboard, touch screen). The receive computer 16 mayinclude a web browser or other application that provides a userinterface to enter information to receive a money transfer. The webbrowser may allow for entry of receiver identification information thatmay be used to authorize release of the money transfer funds to thereceiver. As another example, a telephone at the receive location 18 maybe used to contact a call center (not shown) to initiate a send requestto the server 20. The receive computer 16 may also be located remotelyfrom the receive computer 16.

The server 20 may be housed and/or operated by or on behalf of thefinancial services organization that, among other functions, approvesand coordinates send transactions of money transfers at the sendlocation 14 and receive transactions of money transfers at the receivelocation 18. The server 20 facilitates approval of send requests fromthe send location 14 and receive requests from the receive location 18.In some embodiments, the server 20 is configured to process send andreceive requests automatically. In other embodiments, the server 20provides information to a user at the financial services organizationfor review and approval. For example, the server 20 may be connected toa computer 26 that provides an interface to a user at the financialservices organization to review and approve or deny money transfer sendor receive transactions. In some embodiments, the server 20 providescompliance functions for money transfer transaction. The server 20includes storage capabilities to store information from money transfersend transactions for later retrieval during the money transfer receiveapproval process. In addition, the server 20 may store other informationsuch as, for example, past customer money transfer send/receiveactivity, customer account information, and computer identification andlog-in information for the send computer 12 and receive computer 16. Theinformation for a customer may be stored in the server 20 as a customeror user profile.

As will be discussed in more detail herein, the system 10 is configuredto promote the financial services organization and its products andservices (e.g., money transfers) by encouraging customers and potentialcustomers to participate in games or contests generated by the system10. In one example, the system 10 generates trivia questions forcustomers and potential customers to answer. In the illustratedembodiment, the system 10 includes a promotion engine computer 30associated with the server 20 operated by the financial servicesorganization to generate the games or contests. The promotion enginecomputer 30 is configured to generate the games or contests, which areaccessible by the customers or potential customers by communicating withthe server 20 via various means. The games and contests generated by thepromotion engine computer 30 are designed to encourage customers andpotential customers to access and interact with various products,services, and media managed by the financial services organization,thereby leading to increased exposure and usage of the products andservices offered by the financial services organization.

In some embodiments, the promotion engine computer 30 uses informationon the server 20 to generate customized games or contests for customersand potential customers. For example, the promotion engine computer 30may access a user profile for a customer or potential customer in a userprofile database stored on the server 20. As discussed above, the userprofile may include past customer money transfer send/receive activityand customer account information. In addition, the user profile on theserver 20 may store more personal information about the user assembledfrom various sources. In some embodiments, the server 20 is configuredcollect information about a user's personal interests, demographics,education level, career, family, shopping habits, and so on from theuser's activity and volunteered information on the internet. Forexample, the server 20 and server computer 26 can be configured tomanage social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.)that interact with social media accounts of customers and potentialcustomers. The interactions with social media accounts of customers andpotential customers allows the server 20 to assemble information aboutthe customers and potential customers, as well as the people, companies,and organizations, with which the customers and potential customersinteract with their social media account. Using the informationassembled by the server 20, the promotion engine computer 30 cangenerate games or contests that are designed or tailored to the customeror potential customer. For example, if the user profile for a customeror potential customer indicates a preference for rock music, the server20 may generate a game or contest (e.g., a trivia question) for thecustomer or potential customer that relates to rock music.

The promotion engine computer 30 may also be configured to generategames or contests related to the date or events surrounding the date.For example, the date of the game or contest is near a holiday, such asChristmas, the promotion engine computer 30 can generate a game orcontest related the holiday. As another example, if a historical eventoccurred around the date of the game or contest, the game or contest mayrelate to the historical event (e.g., a trivia question about thehistorical event). As a further example, if events of societal or socialsignificance are occurring around the date of the game or contest (e.g.,governmental election, sports championship, etc.), the game or contestmay relate to the parties, teams, or individuals involved in the eventof significance.

In order to participate in the game or contest, the server 20 maymaintain a customer relations portal that allows the customer orpotential customer to access the game or contest for participation. Thecustomer relations portal can be configured to provide a user interfaceto a device associated with the customer or potential customer thatpresents the game or contest and allows the customer or potentialcustomer to provide a response or otherwise participate in the game orcontest. For example, the customer or potential customer may access thecustomer relations portal via the send computer 12 at the send location14 or the receive computer 16 at the receive location 18. The customerrelations portal may also be accessed via a user's personal device, suchas a telephone 32 (e.g., cell phone) or a user's computer 34, as will bedescribed in more detail below.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a process for providing agame or contest to a customer or potential customer through the system10. In step 40, the server 20 provides access to the game or contestgenerated by the promotions engine computer 30. After the promotionsengine computer 30 generates a game or contest as described above, theserver 20 brings the game or contest live such that customers andpotential customers can participate in the game or contest. The server20 may provide access to the game or contest in a variety of ways, suchas through interaction upon purchasing a product or service (e.g., moneytransfer) at the send location 14 or receive location 18, directmessaging or other interaction with the customer or potential customers,social media blasts, print advertising, radio and televisionadvertising.

When access to the game or contest is provided, in step 42, the customeror potential customer is directed to the customer relations portalaccessible via an access device (e.g., send computer 12, receivecomputer 16, telephone 32, or user's computer 34), to participate in thegame or contest. For example, the server 20 may provide a game orcontest, or instructions for accessing or participating in the game orcontest, on a receipt for a money transfer transaction at the sendlocation 14 or the receive location 18. In some embodiments, an accesscode is printed on the receipt that may be used to access the customerrelations portal on the server 20 via the send computer 12, receivecomputer 16, telephone 32, or user's computer 34. The printed receiptmay direct the user to a website accessible via the send computer 12,receive computer 16, telephone 32, or user's computer 34 on which thecustomer or potential customer can enter the access code and/or aresponse to the game or contest. The game or contest can alternativelybe accessed by responding to the game or contest by text messaging orplacing a phone call via the telephone 32.

As another example, the customer or potential customer may be directedto the game or contest via an advertisement presented on a television,radio, computer, or print advertisement. As with the receipt, theadvertisement may include the game or contest, or instructions foraccessing the game or contest. The game or contest may be accessible viaa website, for example, as described above, or by responding to the gameor contest associated with the advertisement by text messaging orplacing a phone call via the telephone 32. In some embodiments, theadvertisement includes a code that can be scanned by the telephone 32 orcomputer 34 that directs the telephone 32 or computer 34 to the customerrelations portal for access to the game or contest. For example, in someembodiments, the scannable code includes a bar code or quick response(QR) code.

As a further example, the customer or potential customer may learn aboutthe game or contest via a direct message (e.g., email) or via a socialmedia blast or message. In one example, the customer or potentialcustomer follows or “likes” a page associated with the financialservices organization, and the customer or potential customer receives anotification on their page of the game or contest. The customer orpotential customer is then directed to the customer relations portal viaa link to participate in the game or contest. Alternatively, thecustomer or potential customer may participate in the game or contest byresponding to the direct message or responding on the social mediawebsite. In some embodiments, in addition to participating in the gameor contest on the social media website, the customer or potentialcustomer is provided a user interface by which the customer or potentialcustomer can share the game or contest with other social media members(e.g., “friends”) who may be interested in participating in the game orcontest. When the customer or potential customer shares the game orcontest with others, the customer or potential customer may be given areward or prize. For example, the customer or potential customer may begiven loyalty points, which may be used toward discounts on products andservices offered by the financial services organization.

In step 44, the server 20 receives a response from the customer orpotential customer via inputs in the customer relations portal. Theresponse relates to the customer's or potential customer's participationin the game or contest. For example, if the game or contest includes oneor more trivia questions, the response includes answers to the triviaquestions.

In step 46, the server 20 determines whether the customer or potentialcustomer is to receive a reward or prize based on the response from thecustomer or potential customer. For example, in the case of the game orcontest including one or more trivia questions, the server 20 andpromotions engine computer 30 compare the answers provided by thecustomer or potential customer to answers stored in the server 20 todetermine whether the customer or potential customer has providedcorrect answers to the one or more trivia questions. If the questionswere answered correctly, the customer or potential customer receives areward or prize. In some cases, if the customer's or potentialcustomer's response to the game or contest does not qualify them for areward or prize (e.g., incorrectly answered one or more triviaquestions), the server 20 may determine that the customer or potentialcustomer is eligible for a consolation prize (e.g., loyalty points) forparticipating in the game or contest.

In some embodiments, the server 20 also determines whether the customeror potential customer was one of the first predetermined number ofparticipants to respond to the game or contest with a response thatqualifies for a reward or prize. For example, in a game or contest(e.g., trivia question) presented in a television or radioadvertisement, the reward or prize may only be available to the firstten participants who provide a response that qualifies for a reward orprize (e.g., via text message on the telephone 32).

In step 48, the server 20 provides an output to the customer orpotential customer on the device used to access the customer relationsportal indicating whether the customer or potential customer is toreceive a reward or prize for their answer. For example, if the customeror potential customer accesses the customer relations portal via awebsite hosted by the server 20, the website may immediately provide anindication to the customer or potential customer as to whether a rewardor prize has been won. As another example, if the customer or potentialcustomer responds to the game or contest via a text message, the server20 may provide the customer or potential customer with a return textmessage indicating whether a reward or prize has been won. The responsefrom the server 20 may also indicate the reward or prize won by thecustomer or potential customer. In some embodiments, the reward or prizeis discounted or complimentary products or services offered by thefinancial services organization.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplaryembodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer toparticular features, the scope of this invention also includesembodiments having different combinations of features and embodimentsthat do not include all of the above described features.

The following is claimed:
 1. A promotions engine system for providingcustomized games to a user, the system comprising: memory configured tostore a plurality of user profiles, wherein each user profile of theplurality of user profiles includes at least one of: past money sendactivity and past money receive activity; a processing device configuredto: receive, from a user via a user interface, a request to access thepromotions engine system, wherein the request includes identifyinginformation about the user and a promotional code; generate a customizedgame in response to the received request to access the promotions enginesystem, wherein the customized game is generated based at least in parton the promotional code and wherein a prize of the customized game isrelated to discounted or complimentary money transfer services for amoney transfer system; and output, to the user interface, the customizedgame.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: receive, from the user via the user interface, at leastone answer in response to the customized game; determine whether theuser is eligible for a prize based on the at least one received answer;and output to the user interface an indication as to whether the user iseligible for the prize.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processoris further configured to: determine whether the user is eligible for aconsolation prize in response to determining the user is not eligiblefor the prize based on the at least one received answer; and output tothe user interface an indication as to whether the user is eligible forthe consolation prize.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the customizedgame is generated based at least in part on a date the processing devicereceives the request.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user iseligible for a prize of the customized game based on the user being oneof a first predetermined number of participants.
 6. The system of claim1, wherein the user is eligible for a prize of the customized game basedon the user sharing the customized game with another user.
 7. The systemof claim 1, wherein the customized game is generated based at least inpart on the user profile.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein thecustomized game is generated based at least in part on at least one of:the past money send activity and the past money receive activity of theuser profile.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the customized game isgenerated based at least in part on information associated with theuser's social media accounts.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein thepromotions engine system and the money transfer system are part of asingle system.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumcomprising instructions that when executed by a processor cause theprocessor to: receive, from a user via a user interface, a request toaccess a promotions engine system, wherein the request includesidentifying information about the user; generate a customized game inresponse to the received request to access the promotions engine system,wherein the customized game is generated based at least in part on auser profile associated with the user and wherein a prize of thecustomized game is related to discounted or complimentary money transferservices for a money transfer system; and output, to the user interface,the customized game.
 12. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 11, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium comprises further instructions that when executed by a processorcause the processor to: receive, from the user via the user interface,at least one answer in response to the customized game; determinewhether the user is eligible for a prize based on the at least onereceived answer; and output, to the user interface, an indication as towhether the user is eligible for the prize.
 13. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium comprises further instructions thatwhen executed by a processor cause the processor to: determine whetherthe user is eligible for a consolation prize in response to determiningthe user is not eligible for the prize based on the at least onereceived answer; and output, to the user interface, an indication as towhether the user is eligible for the consolation prize.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein thecustomized game is generated based at least in part on a date theprocessing device receives the request.
 15. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the user iseligible for a prize of the customized game based on the user being oneof a first predetermined number of participants.
 16. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the user iseligible for a prize of the customized game based on the user sharingthe customized game with another user.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the user profile includesat least one of: past money send activity and past money receiveactivity; and wherein the customized game is generated based at least inpart on at least one of: the past money send activity and the past moneyreceive activity of the user profile.
 18. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the requestincludes a promotional code.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 18, wherein the customized game is generatedbased at least in part on the promotional code.
 20. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the customizedgame is generated based at least in part on information associated withthe user's social media accounts.